Shillington gives nod to Fensom, McCrone

Jon Tuxworth

Canberra Raiders prop David Shillington has endorsed Josh McCrone and Shaun Fensom as potential future captains after the duo were included in the club's leadership group.

Shillington assumed the captaincy last year in place of injured skipper Terry Campese and credits McCrone with helping him fill the leadership void. McCrone and Fensom were part of the Raiders' junior leadership group last year and Shillington views their ascent as ''a natural progression''.

Shillington and fellow prop Brett White will remain vice-captains under returning five-eighth Campese, with Shaun Berrigan, Dane Tilse and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs also voted into the leadership group via a player ballot.

McCrone has developed into one of the game's more damaging five-eighths in Campese's absence, and has been rewarded with selection in the NSW Blues emerging squad, which goes into camp for three days at Coogee from Friday.

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''I've played a bit of a leadership role since Campo's been out, it's been thrust on me, so it's exciting I've got recognised for that [by my peers] and obviously they think I've been doing an all right job if they've put me in the leadership group,'' McCrone said.

''We've lost a lot of leaders the last couple of years, not just Campo but Josh Miller and 'Tonguey' [former captain Alan Tongue] and Troy Thompson. There was a fair void there and people had to stand up.'' Shillington has no doubt the 24-year-old could handle the job, while Fensom has already proven himself as a skipper, having led the Raiders to the inaugural Toyota Cup premiership in 2008.

''Obviously if Campo's fully fit and wants to the captain, which I'm sure is the case, that'd be great because we all have so much respect for Campo as a leader,'' Shillington said.

''If that's not the case, I'd definitely endorse giving those guys [McCrone and Fensom] a run at it next year.

''Josh helped me out a lot last year and that's what you need. There's a lot of pressure on the captain and the people around you helping you out are just as important.

''Hopefully their involvement in this [leadership group] pushes them through into maybe having the 'C' next to their name, depending on what Campo's doing.''

Shillington rates McCrone's on-field talk one of his best traits.

''He's a great talker, he's working on keeping a level head and leading the team around like Campo does, and I thought last year he developed that really well,'' Shillington said.

Raiders coach David Furner has challenged the players to assume more leadership responsibility as Campese and White work their way back from knee reconstructions.

''I just want Campo to worry about his football. He's a natural leader anyway, so we're looking at that added responsibility on our vice-captains,'' Furner said.

''Shaun Fensom's been a captain before and he's got plenty of great qualities, he's someone I see who could turn into a very good leader.

''Joshy McCrone has that popularity among the players and he's shown his leadership on the field.''

Fensom, said the inclusion of two younger players in the leadership group was a wise move, as the Raiders have one of the youngest squads in the NRL. ''You need a bit of diversity in there. There's a lot of young guys in the side and you need that in any group,'' he said.

Fensom, Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson will join McCrone in the Blues' emerging squad on Friday.